Other Friends

Things I read

The dangers of Yurakucho

For people who appreciate food and would like to take a bit of Japan home with them, Yurakucho (Yuurakuchou) is a dangerous place. It’s home to the regional food specialty shop Mura-kara Machi-kara Kan, which features fresh and packaged foods from all over the country, as well as alcoholic drinks, and Hokkaido Dosanko Plaza, which features lots of treats from Hokkaido. A short walk from here will take you to another shop that focuses on all things Okinawan.

If you’re easily tempted, it might be best to avert your eyes as you walk by these shops.

Most of these items found their way into our luggage, but the Hokkaido raisin butter sandwiches have long since disappeared, because, of course, they are so perishable and we couldn’t possibly keep them…

For the most part, these shops carry items that are not widely distributed even inside Japan, so if you want to suprise someone with a little gift with minimal probability they will find the same thing in their local Asian market, this is the place to go.

Comments

I posted about the Okinawa shop in Yurakucho a few weeks ago (around christmas time I think) They have a great vegetable selection and so many other things. The hokkaido one seems to have an overwhelming amount of seafood, which isn't really want I ever want. I found the Toyama-ken shop in the basement of another building by accident. I've spent a fair amount of time there, and it was interesting to see what they had there (I think Toyama is famous for its oshizushi)